In this beginning lesson, I will teach you how to read Dhivehi. You should probably write this down.
If you didn't know, the Dhivehi alphabet, Thaana, is written from right to left. This is the opposite of the Latin alphabet. Try not to read it left to right.
ދިވެހި ދަސްކުރަމާ!
In the sentence above, the first word is "ދިވެހި", and not "!ދަސްކުރަމާ"
The first letter of the Thaana alphabet is...
ހ
"Haa". It makes the "h" sound. Simple, right? Alright, here's the rest of them.
ހ ށ ނ ރ ބ ޅ ކ އ ވ މ ފ ދ ތ ލ ގ ޏ ސ ޑ ޒ ޓ ޔ ޕ ޖ ޗ
Now, for the vowels. Dhivehi words are written in syllables. So, the word "Dhivehi" would be spelled Dhi Ve Hi (but still as one whole word) ދި ވެ ހި . So the word Dhivehi is "ދިވެހި".
There are short and long vowel sounds. For example, if you see "Ka (ކަ)" it'll just be a short "a" sound, like in "cup". However, if you see a long vowel sound like "Kaa (ކާ)" it'll be a long "a" sound, like in "father". As you can see, vowels are like just like diacritics. Usually we write the vowel symbol twice to make a vowel long, but there are a few exceptions. Here are all the vowel symbols, using K (ކ) as an example:
ކަ ކާ ކި ކީ ކު ކޫ ކެ ކޭ ކޮ ކޯ ކް
Also, to put a vowel as the start of a syllable, we use the vowel carrier "އ" like in "އަސް", pronounced "As ("A" as in "cup", "s" as in "sand")"
Now, let's do a little test to see how well you can do.
ބޮޑު އަކީ ކުޑައިގެ އިދިކޮޅެވެ
Well, I think you're set to go! I wish you good luck on the stories ahead!
Although, let's just do one more test just to make sure.
Welcome to the Duostories Dhivehi course!